News

Jesse Martin - a 22-year-old University of Denver center - is expected to be back home by the end of the month after suffering a fractured vertebrae during an NCAA game.

The injury occurred during the second period of an Oct. 31 game against the University of North Dakota. Martin was attempting to clear the puck near the end of the boards when he was hit by Fighting Sioux center Brad Malone. Last week, nine days after the accident, Martin was able to walk again after undergoing surgery the day before to realign his vertebrae and stabilize his broken neck. He will begin rehabilitation in St. Paul this week, after which he will continue his recovery in a hospital in Denver that specializes in spinal cord injuries.

Martin’s father hopes his son can continue his rehabilitation in his hometown of Edmonton by the end of November and expects his son will continue his studies at Denver in January, though it remains unclear if he will be able to resume his hockey career. Martin is in the senior year of his business degree at the University of Denver. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the seventh round (195th overall) in 2006.